Control element to be ignited electrically for pin entrance

ABSTRACT

A control element to be electrically ignited for pin retraction, wherein the pin is guided in a housing in which the electrical primer element is accommodated and is optionally provided with a delay device. In the starting position, a compression spring presses the pin with an integrally attached piston against the primer element. The piston rests on a supporting element of the primer element. After ignition of the primer element, the compression spring presses the pin with a residual force against the remaining portion of the supporting element which has been penetrated.

[451 Nov. 21, 1972 Re ence d,

UNITED STATES PATENTS [54] CONTROL ELEMENT TO BE IGNITED ELECTRICALLYFOR PIN ENTRANCE [72] Inventors: Heinz Gawlick, Furth; Hellmut BendlerErlangefispardorf; Gui-er 3,062,143 11/1962 SaVltt 6tfll...................102/28 Hubsch, Kalchreuth a f Germany 3,541,92011/1970 Rapp et al. B

[73] Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft,

Primary Examiner-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney-Craig & AntonelliTroisdorf, Germany Nov. 5, 1970 [221 PM: ABSTRACT A control element tobe electrically ignited for pin retraction, wherein the pin is guided ina housing in which the electrical primer element is accommodated and isoptionally provided with a delay device. In the starting position, acompression spring presses the pin with an integrally attached pistonagainst the primer element. The piston rests on a supporting element ofthe primer element. After ignition of the primer elethe compressionspring presses the pin with a residual force against the remainingportion of the supporting element which has been penetrated.

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PATENTEB wow 2 1 m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTQRS HEINZ GAWLICK H E LLMUTBENDLER GUNTHER HUBSCH ATTORNEYS CONTROL ELEMENT TO BE IGNITEDELECTRICALLY FOR PIN ENTRANCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to a control element to be ignited electrically forpin entrance, and more particularly, to a control element wherein thepin is guided in a housing in which the electric igniter or detonator isaccommodated and is optionally provided with a delay charge.

Control elements of the aforementioned type, also known as an actuator,are intended for initiating a switching procedure upon the ignitiontherein of a pressure igniter charge by means of a wire or a gap fuzeeffected electrically by remote control.

It is known to provide a control element which has a piston, wherein aguide tube, which is disposed in an outer sleeve and associated with thepiston, is provided with surfaces on its outside. The propellant gasesdeveloping after the ignition of a propellant charge pass between theguide tube and the outer sleeve from the ignition side, which is locatedon one side of the piston, to the opposite side of the piston and,thereby, press the piston into the tube so that the piston exerts apulling action, by way of a pin, on an element connected with the pistonand disposed outside of the control element which is to be switched orcontrolled.

The disadvantage of this construction, however, resides in that a veryexact fitting is required between the pin and the outer sleeve as wellas between the bore of the inner tube and the piston. In order tomaintain the pin in its position after initiation for a longer period oftime, it is necessary to provide additional seals or gaskets in thefitted parts or to fix the piston in the inner tube in its end positionby means of an additional holding device.

Furthermore, a control element is conventional which draws in a pinhaving a disk-like stem within the housing on which a compression springrests with the opposite side of this spring being supported in thebottom of the housing. The compression force of the spring presses thepin, by means of a piston stem attached to the disk-like stem of thepin, onto a firmly compressed pyrotechnical supporting or delay charge.After the ignition, the pyrotechnical charge is converted into liquidslag, so that the piston stem of the pin can penetrate into the fuzetube and, accordingly, the pin executes a movement toward the inside.

The disadvantages of this type of control element reside in that thesupporting or delay compositions are sensitive to outside influences,especially moisture. In order to keep outside influences away,complicated sealing problems must be solved either in connection withthe passage of the pin through the housing or on the surface of thesupporting or delay charge. The provision of sealing means at thehousing causes additional friction and thus a reduction in the draw-inor entrance force of the pin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention toovercome the problems and disadvantages encountered in the prior artdevices by providing a control or switching element which is simple inconstruction, requires no additional sealing elements, ensures a safefunctioning, and is also suitable for delayed-action detonators.

The foregoing problems have been solved, in accordance with the presentinvention, by providing that, in the starting position, a compressionspring presses the pin with its integrally attached piston against thedetonator or primer element with this piston resting on a supportingelement of the primer element; the compression spring presses the pin,after the ignition of the detonator element and the thus-producedpenetration through the supporting element, with a residual forceagainst the remaining portion of the supporting element of the primerelement. The detonating or primer element consists preferably of acapsule, wherein a fuze tube containing a pressure igniter charge isdisposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and further aims, features andadvantages will become more apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance withthe present invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a control element with apyrotechnical pressure igniter charge prior to ignition or detonation;

FIG. 2 is a view of the control element according to FIG. 1 afterignition;

FIG. 3 and 4 are partial cross-sectional views of a control elementcorresponding to the element of FIGS. 1 and 2 but with an additionaldelay charge; and

FIG. 5 shows the steps of installing a supporting disk in a fuze orpowder train tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing and,in particular, to FIG. 1, the control element consists of a housing 1from which a pin 2 extends for executing the switching or controlfunction, i.e. it is drawn into the housing after a trigger pulse orimpulse. The pin 2 rests, in its armed or extended position, with theshoulder 3 of the guide portion 4 abutting against the bottom 5 of thehousing and can be moved toward the inside by means of a compressionspring 6 disposed between the bottom 5 of the housing and a mountingdisk 7 following the guide portion 4 of the pin. The lower end of thepin forms a piston 8 which tapers conically in the direction of themounting disk 7. The pin 2 is cocked or armed by way of a primer element10 disposed in a locking screw or threaded cap 9, i.e. the pin is pushedout of the housing against the force of the spring to such an extendthat the shoulder 3 contacts the bottom 5 of the housing.

For igniting the primer element 10, conventional means (not shown) canbe employed such as, for example, gap or wire primers. From the capsulell of the primer element 10, the two electric connections of the primercharge with the negative pole l2 and the positive pole 13 are extendedtoward the outside through the locking cap or screw 9. Within thecapsule 11, a fuze tube 14 is disposed above the primer charge and isheld in the capsule by means of a flange or bead 15.

When employing a wire fuze, a pyrotechnical pressure igniter charge 16is pressed into the fuze tube 14. In case a gap fuze is employed, thegas produced by the electrical primer charge is completely sufficient,so that the pressure igniter charge 16 can be replaced by adjusting orappropriately apportioning the electrical primer charged into the gapdetonator. The pressure igniter charge or the electrical primer chargecan be covered in the fuze tube 14 with, for example, a varnished orlacquered lead-tinfoil and provided with a cover coating of varnish.

A disk 17 serves as a cover for the fuze tube 14 and simultaneouslyconstitutes the supporting element for the tensioned or armed pin,thereby exerting a scaling function. This function is attained byproviding that the disk 17, prior to its installation, has a differentgeometrical shape than in the mounted condition. The disk is, as shownin FIG. 5, curved in the center with the peripheral area 18 beingparallel to the line of symmetry. During installation, the disk isinserted with its curvature l9 pointing upwardly into the recess oraperture 20 of the fuze tube 14. By pressing the disk flat, anenlargement of the outer diameter is obtained which is dependent on thesize of the curvature 19 of the disk. As shown in FIG. 50, the flatteneddisk assumes the configuration of a truncated cone with the lowerperipheral portion of the disk deforming the recess 20 such that therecess assumes a corresponding shape. This results in a flush sealing atthe diameter of the recess 20 in the fuze tube 14. This type of sealingwithstands high pressures, so that the pyrotechnical compositionscompressed thereunder are completely protected from environmentalinfluences.

Consequently, it is not necessary any more to provide a seal in the pinpassage 21 of the housing 1. This constitutes an advantage, since a sealbetween the housing 1 and the pin 2 would be very expensive andcomplicated. Besides, power losses would occur due to such a sealbecause of friction on the moving pin.

The mode of operation of the control element in accordance with thepresent invention is as follows: Upon the application of a specificelectrical energy to the electric poles 12 and 13, the pulse isconducted to the initiating charge (not shown). Upon the ignition ofsuch an initiating means, the pressure igniter charge or the electricalcharge spontaneously builds up a pressure in the fuze tube 14. Thepressure is directed against the disk 17, which advantageously consistsof a material having a low elongation at rupture such as, for example,copper or a copper alloy such as brass which exhibits these propertiesafter special treatment. This material can be, for example, one havingthe DIN (German Industrial Standard) designation E-Cu F 37 or Ms 58 F51.

If the disk 17 were made of a soft material, the material would bepressed upwardly at the piston 8 on the outside by the gas pressure, andthe gas could escape into the space between the primer element and themounting disk 7. Entrance of the pin 2 by the spring 6 could not beensured thereby, since the piston 8 is only a little smaller than thereceiving bore 22 for the pyrotechnical pressure igniter charge 16 inthe fuze tube 14.

In case of a material having a low elongation at rupture or ductileyield, the disk 17 is ruptured along the diameter of the piston 8 of pin2 when slightly lifted by the gas pressure, whereby the latter is movedand is accelerated by the spring 6 into the presently empty space of thefuze tube 14. The disk 23 punched out of the disk 17 likewise falls intothe receiving bore 22 of the fuze tube 14, as seen in FIG. 2. The gaswhich is under pressure thereby reaches the space between the primerelement and the receiving disk only when the disk 17 has been punched.

Due to the above-mentioned conicity of the piston 8, a friction betweenthe latter and the remaining annular section 24 of the disk 17 isprevented also in this case. Consequently, the full spring force of thecompression spring 6 is available for the movement of the pin. The pin-2 rests in a defined manner after triggering with the underside of themounting disk 7 on the remaining annular section 24, whereby an exactstroke length a of the pin results. By the change in position of the pin2, another structural element can be switched, armed, or released.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the construction of the fuze 10 employed in FIGS. 1and 2 is different. The control element in FIGS. 1 and 2 switcheswithout a delay time, whereas the element of FIGS. 3 and 4 has apyrotechnical delay unit incorporated therein. The difference in theprimer element 10 resides in that a pyrotechnical delay charge 26 isconnected with the primer charge 25 and the pressure igniter charge 16.The delay charge 26 and the pressure igniter charge 16 are pressed intothe fuze tube 27 and converted with, for example, a leadtinfoil andprovided with a cover layer of varnish. This combined element isinserted into the primer element 10 as a prefabricated unit with thisprimer element, in turn, being embedded in the capsule 1 1.

This subdivision of the primer element with installed delay is suitablebecause the primer element can be manufactured in large numbers as aunit, wherein the primer composition can be covered with, for example, alead-tinfoil and provided with a cover coating of varnish. The sameprocedure can be followed with respect to the delay component, the unitbeing producible with varying delay times. Thereby, it is possible tocouple the same primer elements with varying delay components. Thismeasure simplifies the manufacture and storage of fuzes having anincorporated delay time element.

If, as described above, electrical energy is applied to the poles 12 and13, the primer composition 25 is first ignited and then ignites thepyrotechnical delay charge 26 which, in turn, ignites the pressureigniter charge 16 after the lapse of a certain delay period. Thereafter,as in the control element of FIGS. 1 and 2, the disk 17 is punchedthrough and the pin 2 is retracted into the housing 1.

The present invention ensures that the pin 2 is securely fixed in itsterminal position. This is important when, for example, the controlelements are employed in a rocket in order to prevent an unintendedactuation. The length of the entrance or draw-in path a of the pin 2 canbe modified as desired by effecting simple constructional measures atthe pin 2 and/or at the primer element 10. Thus, it is possible to adaptthe control element to the respective desired purpose.

While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance withthe present invention, it is to be clearly understood that the same issusceptible of numerous changes and modifications as are encompassedwithin the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to belimited to the details shown and described herein but intend to coverall such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope ofthe present invention.

We claim:

1. Control element adapted to be ignited electrically, comprising ahousing, pin means having a piston operatively guided in the housing,electrical detonator means arranged in the housing, said electricaldetonator means include a capsule having fuze tube means, said fuze tubemeans being provided with recess means at the end thereof directedtoward the outside, means for pressing the pin means against thedetonator means to retract the pin; and supporting means in the form ofa disk being mounted in a flush manner in said recess means such thatthe pin means rests against said disk, said disk having a curvatureadapted to be pressed flat to form an enlarged outer disk diameter forperipheral flush engagement with said recess means to effect a sealbetween said disk and said recess means of said fuze tube means, whereinthe pressing means presses the pin means against the detonator means inthe starting position and, after ignition of the detonator means andpenetration of the supporting means, presses the pin means with aresidual force against the remaining portion of the supporting means.

2. Control element according to claim 1, wherein the pressing meanscomprises a compression spring.

3. Control means according to claim 2, wherein a delay charge isprovided in the detonator means.

4. Control element according to claim 1, wherein said fuze tube meansincludes a pressure igniter charge disposed therein.

5. Control element according to claim 4, wherein the pressing meanscomprises a compression spring.

6. Control element according to claim 5, wherein a delay charge isprovided in the detonator means.

7. Control element according to claim 6, wherein said fuze tube meansincludes a first fuze tube with a primer charge arranged in the capsule,and a second fuze tube containing the pressure igniter charge and adelay charge arranged in said first fuze tube.

8. Control element according to claim 7, wherein the fuze tubes areprovided with recess means at the end thereof directed toward theoutside, and the supporting means being mounted in the recess means.

9. Control element according to claim 2, wherein fuze tube meansincludes a pressure igniter charge disposed therein.

10. Control element according to claim 9 wherein said fuze tube meansincludes a first fuze tube with a primer charge arranged in the capsule,and a second fuze tube containing the pressure igniter charge and adelay charge arranged in said first fuze tube.

11. Control element according to claim 1, wherein the disk comprises amaterial having low elongation at rupture.

12. Control element according to claim 11, wherein a delay charge isprovided in the detonator means.

13. Control element according to claim 12, wherein fuze tube meansincludes a pressure igniter charge disposed therein.

14. Control element according to claim 13, wherein said fuze tube meansincludes a first fuze tube with a primer charge arranged in the capsule,and a second fuze tube containing the pressure igniter charge and adelay charge arranged in said first fuze tube.

15. Control element according to claim 11, wherein the material is fromthe group consisting of copper and copper alloy.

. Control element according to claim 1, wherein the remaining portion ofthe supporting means is an annular section which is punched out of thedisk by gas pressure with the piston serving as an abutment.

17. Control element according to claim 2, wherein the compression springis mounted on a guide portion of the pin means.

18. Control element according to claim 17, wherein the compressionspring is tensioned between the housing bottom and a receiving diskfollowing the guide portion.

19. Control element according to claim 18, wherein the piston tapers ina direction toward the receiving disk.

20. Control element according to claim 1, wherein a threaded cap meansis provided as a centering device and abutment for the detonator means.

21. Control element according to claim 1, wherein said supporting diskhas a configuration of a truncated cone in the flattened condition.

22. Control element according to claim 1, wherein said supporting diskeffects a flush mounting and sealing of said supporting disk and saidrecess means by deforming the walls of said recess means to correspondto the enlarged outer diameter of said disk in the flattened condition.

1. Control element adapted to be ignited electrically, comprising ahousing, pin means having a piston operatively guided in the housing,electrical detonator means arranged in the housing, said electricaldetonator means include a capsule having fuze tube means, said fuze tubemeans being provided with recess means at the end thereof directedtoward the outside, means for pressing the pin means against thedetonator means to retract the pin; and supporting means in the form ofa disk being mounted in a flush manner in said recess means such thatthe pin means rests against said disk, said disk having a curvatureadapted to be pressed flat to form an enlarged outer disk diameter forperipheral flush engagement with said recess means to effect a sealbetween said disk and said recess means of said fuze tube means, whereinthe pressing means presses the pin means against the detonator means inthe starting position and, after ignition of the detonator means andpenetration of the supporting means, presses the pin means with aresidual force against the remaining portion of the supporting means. 1.Control element adapted to be ignited electrically, comprising ahousing, pin means having a piston operatively guided in the housing,electrical detonator means arranged in the housing, said electricaldetonator means include a capsule having fuze tube means, said fuze tubemeans being provided with recess means at the end thereof directedtoward the outside, means for pressing the pin means against thedetonator means to retract the pin; and supporting means in the form ofa disk being mounted in a flush manner in said recess means such thatthe pin means rests against said disk, said disk having a curvatureadapted to be pressed flat to form an enlarged outer disk diameter forperipheral flush engagement with said recess means to effect a sealbetween said disk and said recess means of said fuze tube means, whereinthe pressing means presses the pin means against the detonator means inthe starting position and, after ignition of the detonator means andpenetration of the supporting means, presses the pin means with aresidual force against the remaining portion of the supporting means. 2.Control element according to claim 1, wherein the pressing meanscomprises a compression spring.
 3. Control means according to claim 2,wherein a delay charge is provided in the detonator means.
 4. Controlelement according to claim 1, wherein said fuze tube means includes apressure igniter charge disposed therein.
 5. Control element accordingto claim 4, wherein the pressing means comprises a compression spring.6. COntrol element according to claim 5, wherein a delay charge isprovided in the detonator means.
 7. Control element according to claim6, wherein said fuze tube means includes a first fuze tube with a primercharge arranged in the capsule, and a second fuze tube containing thepressure igniter charge and a delay charge arranged in said first fuzetube.
 8. Control element according to claim 7, wherein the fuze tubesare provided with recess means at the end thereof directed toward theoutside, and the supporting means being mounted in the recess means. 9.Control element according to claim 2, wherein fuze tube means includes apressure igniter charge disposed therein.
 10. Control element accordingto claim 9 wherein said fuze tube means includes a first fuze tube witha primer charge arranged in the capsule, and a second fuze tubecontaining the pressure igniter charge and a delay charge arranged insaid first fuze tube.
 11. Control element according to claim 1, whereinthe disk comprises a material having low elongation at rupture. 12.Control element according to claim 11, wherein a delay charge isprovided in the detonator means.
 13. Control element according to claim12, wherein fuze tube means includes a pressure igniter charge disposedtherein.
 14. Control element according to claim 13, wherein said fuzetube means includes a first fuze tube with a primer charge arranged inthe capsule, and a second fuze tube containing the pressure ignitercharge and a delay charge arranged in said first fuze tube.
 15. Controlelement according to claim 11, wherein the material is from the groupconsisting of copper and copper alloy.
 16. Control element according toclaim 1, wherein the remaining portion of the supporting means is anannular section which is punched out of the disk by gas pressure withthe piston serving as an abutment.
 17. Control element according toclaim 2, wherein the compression spring is mounted on a guide portion ofthe pin means.
 18. Control element according to claim 17, wherein thecompression spring is tensioned between the housing bottom and areceiving disk following the guide portion.
 19. Control elementaccording to claim 18, wherein the piston tapers in a direction towardthe receiving disk.
 20. Control element according to claim 1, wherein athreaded cap means is provided as a centering device and abutment forthe detonator means.
 21. Control element according to claim 1, whereinsaid supporting disk has a configuration of a truncated cone in theflattened condition.